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Behavioral Ecology Advance Access originally published online on August 18, 2004
Behavioral Ecology 2005 16(1):247-254; doi:10.1093/beheco/arh159
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Behavioral Ecology vol. 16 no. 1 © International Society for Behavioral Ecology 2005; all rights reserved.

Exploration of environmental changes relates to lifestyle

Claudia Mettke-Hofmanna,b, Michael Winkc, Hans Winklerd and Bernd Leislere

a Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Department of Biological Rhythms and Behaviour, Von-der-Strasse 7, 82346, Andechs and b Institute of Behaviour, Free University of Berlin, Haderslebener Strasse 9, 12163 Berlin, c Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, d Konrad-Lorenz-Institute for Comparative Ethology, Savoyenstrasse 1a, 1160, Vienna, e Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Department Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Scnlossallee 2, 78315, Radolfzell

Address correspondence to C. Mettke-Hofmann. E-mail: mettke-hofmann{at}orn.mpg.de.

Decision making in informed animals is often described by optimality models. However, how information about an environment is acquired is rarely investigated. Cost/benefit considerations suggest that species differ in this respect according to their lifestyle. We tested the hypothesis that resident species react to changes in their familiar environment earlier and explore it more intensively than do nomadic species by observing the response to environmental changes (presentation of novel objects) in 10 parrot species. Phylogenetic relationships were taken into account. Residents touched the novel objects significantly earlier and explored more objects than did nomads. In addition, species with a high proportion of fruits in their food spectrum explored more than did species with other food preferences. The results are in accordance with different costs and benefits of information gathering for species that differ in their lifestyle and ecological demands.

Key words: environmental assessment, neophilia, nomads, parrots, Psittacidae, residents.


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